My Taoist buddy has practiced surrogacy

Chapter 1423 Confession
Just then, the county yamen runners extorted money from Ling Xue on charges of "harboring refugees." Gu Huai sneered, revealed his Ministry of Revenue verification document, and said, "I am here on imperial orders to investigate disaster relief. Do you want to alarm the Censorate?" Upon seeing this, the runners were so frightened that they immediately knelt down and begged for mercy.

Ling Xue looked at Gu Huai, her heart filled with doubt. Gu Huai looked at her and slowly said, "I am actually the son of the Vice Minister of Revenue. I was hunted down for investigating corruption." Ling Xue was startled upon hearing this. She remembered the broken hairpin in her makeup box, took it out and examined it closely, and found the words "Grain Transport Accounts" engraved on it in tiny characters.

After learning Gu Huai's true identity, Ling Xue felt a mix of emotions. She began to reflect on her initial motives, realizing she had been somewhat selfish and despicable. She decided to confess to Gu Huai.

One night, Ling Xue confessed to Gu Huai that she had initially saved him for money. Instead of being angry, Gu Huai gently stroked her hair and said, "I knew you were no ordinary village girl."

Not long after, Chen Qingyuan returned home after passing the imperial examination. He saw Gu Huai and Ling Xue riding together, and his face instantly turned ugly. He angrily rebuked Ling Xue for "coveting wealth and status," leaving her stunned. Gu Huai, however, scoffed and said, "He hasn't returned for three years, and you haven't even embroidered your wedding dress—clearly, you're waiting for someone?"

Just then, corrupt officials led their troops to surround the village on charges of "harboring a wanted criminal." Ling Xue was fearless. She raised a torch and set the granary ablaze, shouting, "Lord Gu said that only when rotten grain is burned can new seedlings grow!" The firelight illuminated the night sky and the villagers' determined eyes.

Gu Huai's men arrived just in time, and a chaotic battle broke out. Taking advantage of the chaos, Ling Xue pierced the magistrate's shoulder blade with a harpoon. Gu Huai looked at her, his eyes full of admiration, and said, "That move, 'Lifting a Lantern in the Waves,' is indeed exquisite."

After the war, Gu Huai handed over the account books and asked Ling Xue to come to the capital with him. Ling Xue refused, pointing to the village that was being rebuilt, and said, "There are people here whom I promised to support."

Chen Qingyuan realized his mistake and, carrying the "Ten Strategies for Flood Control," went to Gu Huai. Ling Xue handed him the broken hairpin and said, "Tell the Ministry of Revenue that the Da Yuan River must be cleared, but the blood of the people must not be cold."

Three years later, Ling Xue had become a renowned teacher in the area. She taught children to read and write, and lived a peaceful and fulfilling life.

One day, she received an anonymous package. Upon opening it, she found half a tattered scroll inside, detailing the truth behind the massacre of the Cui family. Ling Xue was shocked; she knew that a far greater conspiracy might be hidden behind this.

Just then, a masked swordsman visited the school at night. He handed a letter to Ling Xue, saying, "The fish that you catch, young lady, is never meant to be found in a pond." After saying this, he disappeared into the night.

Ling Xue opened the letter and found it was handwritten by Gu Huai. The letter read: "I have requested an imperial decree to thoroughly investigate the cheating in the imperial examinations. If we meet again someday, I am willing to exchange my sincerity for a smile from you." Ling Xue looked at the letter, a slight smile appearing on her lips.

She cast her ebony fishing rod into the river, the ripples shattering the moon's reflection. Behind her, she heard children reciting "A Free and Easy Wandering," as if they were telling of their hopes for the future. Ling Xue knew that her story was far from over, and that fishing line would lead her to an unknown future.

Ling Xue sat in the bridal chamber, surrounded by festive red decorations. However, her heart was filled with confusion and unease. Zhou's eldest son coughed up blood and fell unconscious; the wedding ceremony was not yet over when he was hastily taken back to his room.

The matchmaker kept chanting about the benefits of "bringing good luck to a bride," but Ling Xue felt it was all a farce. Looking at her dying brother on the bed, she felt a mix of emotions. While organizing her dowry chests, she found a faded amulet. An old servant from the Zhou family told her that it was given to her brother by her second brother, Zhou Xing, ten years ago before he went to war.

In the end, Dalang couldn't pull through; that night, he closed his eyes forever. Lingxue stayed in the mourning hall, tears streaming down her face. Zhou Xing rushed back from the border, his black armor still stained with blood. He entered the mourning hall and saw Lingxue curled up on a prayer mat, her shoulders trembling slightly.

He walked to Ling Xue's side, knelt down, took off his cloak, and gently wrapped it around her. The moment their fingertips touched, they both recoiled as if struck by lightning. Just then, the memorial tablet suddenly tipped over, making a crisp sound that broke the silence.

Zhou Xing returned to his courtyard and saw the crabapple tree that Ling Xue had planted at the base of the wall. The delicate flowers swayed gently in the breeze, as if carrying a touch of tenderness.

From then on, every three days, half a roasted rabbit would appear on Ling Xue's windowsill. Ling Xue knew that Zhou Xing had sent it. She felt touched, but also curious about what this young general was thinking.

One night, Ling Xue followed the scent of wine to the edge of the training ground. She saw Zhou Xing sitting there alone, drinking wine and stroking a broken arrow in his hand. The moonlight shone on him, making him appear exceptionally lonely.

At this moment, he suddenly spoke up, "Back then, my elder brother took in defeated soldiers from the battlefield, only to be falsely accused of treason." Ling Xue listened, a wave of emotion washing over her. She silently walked over and handed him the medicine she was holding. Zhou Xing took the medicine, looked at her, and a hint of gratitude flashed in his eyes.

Soon after, the northern border was in dire straits, and the emperor ordered Zhou Xing to defend Yumen Pass to the death. On the eve of his departure, Ling Xue came to Zhou Xing's room and stuffed a sewn amulet into his bag. Zhou Xing looked at her, his Adam's apple bobbing, but he only uttered two words: "Take care."

Yumen Pass had been besieged for three months, and with their food supplies cut off, the situation was extremely critical. Ling Xue was extremely anxious and wanted to do something for Zhou Xing. So, she pawned the silver bracelet from her dowry to get three cartloads of grain, and disregarding the danger, personally escorted them to the border.

When she arrived at the border, she witnessed Zhou Xing leading his men to raid the enemy's supply lines. She was filled with worry, but breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Zhou Xing return safely.

That night, while Ling Xue was preparing medicine for the wounded, she found a bloodstained fragment of the *Yin Fu Jing* in the medicine basket. Knowing it belonged to Zhou Xing, she carefully put it away.

Upon learning of Ling Xue's arrival, Zhou Xing tossed her a hardwood box. Ling Xue opened it and found a dried Gobi flower inside. Zhou Xing turned his face away and said, "More resilient than a crabapple." Looking at the flower, Ling Xue felt a warm current welling up inside her.

The enemy forged a letter of treason from the Zhou family, hoping to demoralize Zhou Xing. Ling Xue saw through the plot. She lit the beacon tower and used a bronze mirror to reflect sunlight, sending out a distress signal. Under the scorching sun, she persevered for two hours, finally sending the signal. Upon seeing the signal, Zhou Xing immediately recognized the enemy's trick.

The war intensified, and Zhou Xing led his troops in a desperate battle against the enemy. During one engagement, a poisoned arrow struck Zhou Xing in the right shoulder. Upon learning this, Ling Xue was frantic with worry and immediately spurred her horse thirty li to find the divine healer.

When she found the divine healer, he demanded a fragment of the *Yin Fu Jing* in exchange. Ling Xue agreed without hesitation. She rushed back to the camp with the medicine and spent the entire night scraping Zhou Xing's bone to remove the poison. In his unconscious state, Zhou Xing clutched her sleeve, murmuring "Sister."

After returning to the capital in triumph, the censor impeached Zhou Xing for "possessing a seditious book." To protect Zhou Xing, Ling Xue recited the *Yin Fu Jing* in court, saying, "This is a strategy to defend against the witchcraft of the Xiongnu; what's wrong with it?" The emperor, upon hearing this, fell into deep thought. Just then, the true culprit confessed, admitting to forging the letter of treason. The emperor on his throne stared at Ling Xue and slowly said, "Quite a remarkable person."

At the victory banquet, Zhou Xing got completely drunk. He looked at Ling Xue, put a crabapple blossom in her hair, and said, "If we had met ten years earlier..." Ling Xue covered his mouth with her finger. Outside the tent, the north wind swirled in fine snow, masking the sound of their heartbeats.

Zhou Xing requests an imperial decree to thoroughly investigate the old case of his brother's death, and Ling Xue helps him organize the files until late at night. While reviewing the archives, she discovers a secret edict from the late emperor pointing directly to the witchcraft case that the royal family fears. The two realize that a huge conspiracy is hidden behind this matter.

They decided to go to Hanshan Temple to find the abbot. The abbot handed over the letter written in blood; it turned out that Zhou's eldest son had willingly drunk poison to save his younger brother's life. Ling Xue looked at the letter, tears welling up in her eyes.

On the night of the new emperor's ascension to the throne, a mutiny broke out in the palace. Zhou Xing rushed into the palace to save the emperor, handing a tiger tally to Ling Xue and saying, "If I go mad, use this to save your life." Ling Xue looked at him, her heart filled with determination.

She climbed the corner tower and beat the drum to send a message. At dawn, she saw dust rising on the horizon—the border troops had returned.

Ling Xue opened a women's business, and the signboard featured a soaring eagle drawn by Zhou Xing. The business's first order was to deliver cotton-padded clothes to the border troops. The young escorting the goods smiled and said, "General Zhou planted three hundred crabapple trees in the Gobi Desert."

On the Lantern Festival, every household was brightly lit. Zhou Xing led Ling Xue along the bustling street. Suddenly, he took out a ring, slipped it onto Ling Xue's finger, and said, "This time, it's a proper marriage."

Ling Xue looked at the ring, her eyes filled with happiness. At that moment, fireworks exploded in the night sky, illuminating the image of Xizhou Begonia from ten years ago.

Later, historians recorded that during the Yongchang era, Zhou Ling and his wife donated half of their family fortune to build the Great Wall west of the Yellow River. Each blue brick was inscribed with a line from the Yin Fu Jing (a classic text on divination), and a blank stele stood beside the beacon tower, which, according to legend, could be felt to the touch.

In early spring, the streets of the capital were bustling with activity. Ling Xue carried two baskets of vibrant apricot blossoms, weaving through the crowds and loudly calling out, "Fresh apricot blossoms! Don't miss out!" Her words were as sweet as honey, and she kept joking with passersby, making everyone laugh heartily.

Suddenly, a tall horse galloped by, its rider dressed in purple robes with a stern face—it was none other than Prime Minister Zhou Xing. Ling Xue couldn't dodge in time, and her basket full of apricot blossoms was snagged on the saddle, scattering the blossoms all over the ground. She was heartbroken to see the apricot blossoms she had painstakingly picked ruined, but when she saw that the rider was Zhou Xing, she could only dare to be angry but not speak out.

Zhou Xing dismounted and saw the scattered apricot blossoms on the ground and Ling Xue's distressed expression. His attendant hurriedly stepped forward and offered silver as compensation. Ling Xue, however, grumbled unhappily, "Does the Prime Minister's horse have eyes in the sky? I planted these flowers one by one." Zhou Xing, who was already indifferent, frowned upon hearing this, flicked his sleeves, ignored her, and prepared to leave.

Ling Xue watched his retreating figure and muttered under her breath, "What's with the act? Always so serious, like he's some kind of ice sculpture." Unexpectedly, Zhou Xing overheard her. He turned and gave Ling Xue a cold look, his eyes filled with authority.

Late at night, Zhou Xing sat in his study handling official business. The candlelight flickered, and his face was full of fatigue. Suddenly, he noticed a bunch of wild roses wrapped in grass stems hidden in his inkstone. He picked up the wild roses and saw that the petals were still covered with dew, and his heart stirred.

The next day, Ling Xue went to pick flowers as usual. She came to the edge of a cliff where many rare flowers grew. She carefully picked them when suddenly she lost her footing and plummeted towards the edge of the cliff. Just when she thought she was going to be smashed to pieces, a strong hand grabbed her. She looked up and saw that it was Zhou Xing.

After pulling her up, Zhou Xing coldly scolded, "Are you out of your mind?" With that, he untied his python-patterned belt and tied Ling Xue to a safe rock. Ling Xue watched his actions, feeling both grateful and somewhat frightened. She noticed an old scar on Zhou Xing's finger and was about to examine it closely when he turned and left.

A few days later, Ling Xue arrived at the Zhou residence carrying a load of medicinal herbs. Smiling, she said to the guards at the gate, "I heard the Prime Minister has recently caught a cold, so I specially gathered some herbs; perhaps they'll come in handy." The guards looked at her hesitantly. At this moment, Zhou Xing's personal guard came out, took the herbs, and led Ling Xue into the residence.

Ling Xue entered the study and saw Zhou Xing coughing up blood while processing memorials. She felt a pang of heartache, but teased him, "If you keep going like this, even the Underworld Palace will have to save room for you." Zhou Xing looked up at her but didn't say anything.

Ling Xue walked around the mansion and noticed something amiss. Relying on her keen intuition, she suspected someone was trying to tamper with the medicine. So, when no one was looking, she secretly switched the medicine.

That night, Zhou Xing's old ailment flared up again, causing him immense pain. Just then, a group of assassins burst through the window. Seeing this, Ling Xue grabbed her scissors and rushed forward. Although she was just a flower girl, she was incredibly agile. She used the scissors to block the assassins' swords and shouted, "Prime Minister, quickly call the guards! My makeshift bodyguard can't hold on much longer!"

Zhou Xing looked at her, feeling a surge of emotion. He touched the antidote pill Ling Xue had slipped into his sleeve, a slight smile playing on his lips as he chuckled softly, "Fool." Thanks to the combined efforts of Ling Xue and Zhou Xing, the assassins were repelled.

After the battle, Zhou Xing looked at Ling Xue and said earnestly, "Why did you save me?" Ling Xue, panting, replied, "With the Prime Minister dead, my Xinghua needs a better buyer." Hearing her words, Zhou Xing felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He made an unprecedented move by letting her stay overnight in the guest room.

Ling Xue lay on the bed in the guest room, unable to sleep all night. Staring at the rafters, she murmured to herself, "If the iceberg melts, I wonder if it will turn into a flood or a hot spring?"

With the emperor's decree of marriage issued, the entire court knew that Prime Minister Zhou Xing was about to marry the daughter of a high-ranking official. Ling Xue felt a pang of disappointment upon hearing this news. Carrying a flower basket and humming a little tune, she accidentally bumped into the eight-bearer dowry procession.

When the Minister of Rites saw her, he cursed, "You lowly commoner, make way!" Ling Xue retorted defiantly, "When I was selling flowers to the Prime Minister, you were still breastfeeding." The scene became extremely awkward.

Just then, Zhou Xing lifted the sedan curtain and saw Ling Xue. He noticed the flowers in Ling Xue's hand and his heart stirred. He announced to everyone, "Today is the wedding day, and we need a page to scatter the bridal curtains." With that, he placed Ling Xue into the bridal sedan chair.

After entering the bridal chamber, Ling Xue scattered five-colored fruits as instructed.